True Jackson, VP
True Jackson, VP is an American teen sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from November 8, 2008, to August 20, 2011. The series starred Keke Palmer, Ashley Argota, Matt Shively, Danielle Bisutti, Greg Proops, Robbie Amell, and Ron Butler. The theme song was written by Toby Gad and Keke Palmer and is performed by Palmer. The series was shot in front of a live studio audience. The pilot episode garnered 4.8 million viewers on its first airing and set network records among kids 6–11, tweens 9–14 and several other demographics, airing after the iCarly three-part episode "iGo to Japan". On May 5, 2009, Nickelodeon renewed the show for a second season of 34 episodes, which premiered on November 14, 2009. This season was later split, making a third season.
In August 2011, Keke Palmer posted a video on her YouTube account and posted on her blog, confirming that "Mystery in Peru" is the series' finale. After the show ended, Keke Palmer renewed her contract with the network; she did voiceover work for Nickelodeon's Winx Club and starred in the Nick TV movie Rags.
Premise
15-year-old True Jackson is selling sandwiches and lemonade with her friend Ryan in the fashion district of New York City, when she is complimented by fashion designer Max Madigan, founder and CEO of Mad Style. Max realizes the clothes True is wearing are his designs, but True had altered them to suit her own purposes. Max likes the altered design and hires True to be the VP of his fashion company's youth apparel division. True hires her best friend Lulu to be her assistant after firing Cricket, her former assistant who was upset and bitter about being surpassed in the business world by a kid. With Lulu's and Ryan's help, True works to be the best she can be despite various obstacles such as her self-centered co-worker Amanda, who is less than enthusiastic to be working with a teenager, but the truth is that she is jealous of True because of how Max pays more attention to True than he does to her. True sees Amanda as an amazing icon in fashion and eventually Amanda recognizes True as a fashion equal, though she still taunts True playfully on a regular basis.Episodes
Cast
Main
- Keke Palmer as True Jackson, a teenager who serves as the Vice President of the Youth Fashion Department at Mad Style, where she works, and gets into mishaps and has a lot of fun with her friends. She is intelligent, funny and hardworking with an odd family. She is usually the most sensible of her friends. In the beginning of the series, she has a crush on Jimmy, Mr. Madigan's nephew, and they eventually become a couple. In the series' finale, True becomes President after Mr. Madigan retires. A running gag in the series is when she says, " what now?".
- Ashley Argota as Lulu, True's best friend and secretary–assistant. She tends to be very crazy, loud and clueless. She is easily distracted as seen in every episode. Although not many people believe it, she is very intelligent and loves math. She also suffers from trichophagia and she is also afraid of birds. Her last name was not revealed during the series. She has a boyfriend named Mikey J. She and Mikey J. share their first kiss in the series' finale.
- Matt Shively as Ryan Leslie Laserbeam, True's second best friend. Though he does not have an official job at Mad Style, he is always there to hang out with True and Lulu. He is not very intelligent and is very clumsy. Ryan's middle name is Leslie, but he dislikes it. Oscar is not sure if Laserbeam is Ryan's real last name, but according to Ryan's big brother, he got the name when one of his ancestors was given the name "Laserbeam" by his crew captain while he was working on a ship. It is hinted that he has a crush on Amanda, but this is no longer acknowledged in the second season due to his affection for Kelsey.
- Danielle Bisutti as Amanda Cantwell, one of the many workers at Mad Style. She is the Vice President of Women's Fashion. Through the beginning of the series, Amanda is seen as True's rival as they often fought/disagreed with each other, but Amanda is slowly becoming True's friend. She was not happy when she found out that Mr. Madigan hired a "kid". By the end of the series, though, she realizes that True isn't so bad and that she is actually looked up to.
- Robbie Amell as Jimmy Madigan, a mail deliverer at Mad Style, the nephew of Max Madigan, and the boy of True's affection. He has feelings towards True, but couldn't date her for a while due to a job rule, until True got jealous of a new mail girl and they became a couple. In the episode "True Secret", Jimmy and True are caught kissing by Max and he says that in order for them to stay together, one of them must quit. By the end of the episode, Max changes the rule. In the series' finale, he gets promoted to drummer of the staff lounge and Kelsey becomes the new mailroom girl.
- Ron Butler as Oscar, the main secretary and operator for Mad Style and works behind the reception desk on the floor where Mad Style offices are. He is seen taking calls on his headset or delivering messages to Amanda. Known to crack jokes, he tends to speak in a campy manner. He wears ascots all the time. Like Lulu, he does not have a last name. It is unknown what became of him after the series' finale, but it's assumed he remains as a secretary.
- Greg Proops as Max Madigan, the CEO of Mad Style and holds all the meetings and other social events, often glorifying True. He is eccentric and is Jimmy's uncle. He retires to stay at home with his wife Doris, who is pregnant with their first child. He can be quirky and confusing at times. Also, when stressed out, it isn't a good idea to get on his bad side. Over all, he is quite a fun person to work for.
Recurring
- Dan Kopelman as Kopelman, a Mad Style employee that hardly speaks and is frequently ridiculed by Max.
- Jennette McCurdy as Amanda "Pinky" Turzo, True's archnemisis
- Trevor Brown as Mikey J, Lulu's boyfriend.
- Jordan Monaghan as Kelsey, Ryan's on-and-off girlfriend.
- Joy Osmanski as Ms. Patti Park, True's teacher.
- Melanie Paxson as Doris Madigan, Max Madigan's wife and True's school librarian.
- Taylor Parks as Shelly, one of True's friends.
- Vincent Ventresca as Mr. Jeff Jamerson, True's science teacher.
- Jo-Anne Krupa as Ella, the Mad Style accountant.
Guest stars
- Pamela Adlon as Babs, a 40-something high school student.
- Dave Allen as Mitchell, copy room operator
- Craig Anton as Snackleberry Junction chef
- Tim Bagley as Ed Wheeler, True's driving instructor.
- Natasha Bedingfield as Herself
- Justin Bieber as Himself
- Jordan Black as Uncle Troy
- Samantha Boscarino as Carla Gustav
- Julie Bowen as Claire Underwood, one of Amanda's assistants.
- Laura Ashley Samuels as Bijou Stinkbottom
- Yvette Nicole Brown as Coral Barns, one of Amanda's assistants.
- Care Bears on Fire as Themselves
- John Cena as Himself
- Noah Crawford as Stan, a teen who works at All Things Lemon.
- Allie DeBerry as Cammy, Pinky's friend.
- Fefe Dobson as Herself
- Julia Duffy as Ms. Watson
- Stephen Dunham as Chad Brackett, Amanda's ex-boyfriend.
- Tiffany Espensen as Young Lulu
- Kevin Farley as Officer Jake Hooley
- Dave Foley as Ted Begley, Jr., company retreat mediator.
- Vivica A. Fox as True's mom
- Gage Golightly as Vanessa, a runaway disguised as a flight attendant.
- Ian Gomez as Jobi Castanueva, the director of Fashion week.
- Kelli Goss as Monique
- Philip Baker Hall as Mr. Jenkins, chairman of an airline company.
- Rachael Harris as Kitty Monreaux, a red carpet reporter.
- Henry Hereford as Ryan's Great Grandfather
- David Anthony Higgins as Dave, one of Amanda's assistants.
- Victoria Justice as Vivian, a model.
- Richard Karn as Fire Marshal O'Dannon
- Tom Kenny as Bingo, owner of Snackleberry Junction.
- Nathan Kress as Prince Gabriel
- Emma Lockhart as Callie, a girl True hires to run a Mad Style store.
- Wendie Malick as Libby Gibbils, Max's fellow fashion colleague.
- J. P. Manoux as Snackleberry Junction waiter
- Laura Marano as Molly
- Tristin Mays as Hailey, a cheerleader.
- Cymphonique Miller as Bernie, Ryan's rival magician.
- Oliver Muirhead as Ian, Prince Gabriel's butler.
- Arden Myrin as Jenna Lutrell, a popular TV actress.
- Suzy Nakamura as Cricket, True's former assistant.
- Gail O'Grady as Sophie Girard, Max's formerly very mean ex-girlfriend.
- Nick Palatas as Skeet
- Janel Parrish as Kyla
- Kelly Perine as Larry Jackson, True's dad.
- Jack Plotnick as Matsor LaRue, the wedding planner for Max's wedding.
- Nathalia Ramos as Dakota North, a supermodel.
- Italia Ricci as Herself, playing a character in a fictional John Cena film.
- Andy Richter as Simon Christini, Max's fashion nemesis.
- Raini Rodriguez as Nina
- Travis Schuldt as Lance Whipple, a hunky librarian.
- Kent Shocknek as Himself
- Ryan Sheckler as Himself
- Willow Smith as Young True
- Stefán Karl Stefánsson as Karl Gustav
- French Stewart as Donald the Delightful, Max's magic assistant turned rival.
- James Patrick Stuart as Burt Burlington, a television personality who embarrassed Max on television.
- Nicole Sullivan as Kreuftlva, a fortune teller.
- Sharon Tay as Herself
- Leon Thomas III as Himself
- Bobb'e J. Thompson as Nate
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Lars Balthazar, a famous cellist.
- Paul F. Tompkins as Royce Bingham, an international spy.
- Julie Warner as Rose Pinchbinder, Mad Style's accountant.
- Michael Weaver as Brock Champion
- Tyler James Williams as Justin Webber, True's crush who is a famous rapper.
- Tom Wilson as Benjamin Franklin
- The cast of Yo Gabba Gabba!
Production
Broadcast
It aired on The N from November 2008 - August 2013.The series has aired on-and-off on TeenNick in the United States since 2009. BET also briefly aired episodes of the series in 2009.
The show also premiered on the Canadian network YTV on March 5, 2009 and every Thursday since, but was changed to Friday to accommodate with iCarly & Big Fun Fridays. Then, the show moved again to Mondays at 6:30pm. As of 2010, the series no longer airs on YTV.
The series continues to air regularly on Nickelodeon networks around the world. The show ended in Australia and New Zealand on December 17, 2011. The last two remaining episodes premiered in the UK on Wednesday January 4, 2012 and Thursday January 5, 2012 and with "Mystery in Peru" premiering on Friday January 6, 2012.
The series is currently shown in Jamaica on one of the national stations TVJ at 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
On May 1, 2019, the series began airing on Nick Pluto.
Home media
True Jackson, VP: Season 1, Vol. 1 was released in a 2 disc set on September 8, 2009. Running time is 321 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English stereo audio. The set also includes behind-the-scenes, cast member's screen tests, bloopers and the first 13 episodes of season 1. Even though there is Season 1 Volume 1, for unknown reasons, a Volume 2 was never released.- The following releases were only released on Amazon.com's CreateSpace manufacture-on-demand service:
Awards and nominations